Costa Rica detains two Lankans near Panama border

Costa Rican National Police officers on Monday detained a group of 23 undocumented migrants, including two Sri Lankans while attempting to enter the Central American country-Costa Rica from Panama, The Tico Times reported.

LTTE ban: EU to appeal

The Council of the European Union has decided to appeal the Judgment of the General Court in connection with the classification of the LTTE and freezing of its funds.

Police investigating ‘murder’ site in Mullaitivu

Police and forensics experts are investigating an incident where some 80 civilians, an army officer and a TID Inspector had been burnt to death at Mullaitivu during the height of the war.

EPC adjourns

Video: JHU for Maithri; Champika

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has decided to support opposition Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the forthcoming Presidential Elections, JHU General Secretary MP Champika Ranawaka announced a short while ago.

UK updates travel advisory on SL

The United Kingdom has updated its travel advisory on Sri Lanka advising UK travelers to be cautious of possible election law violence in view of the presidential elections to be held on January 08, 2015.

Import tax on Big Onions increased

Import tax on a kilo of Big Onions will be increased from Rs 35 to 50 by Rs.15 with immediate effect, Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade said today.

Welipenna exit point flooded

The Welipenna entrance and exit on the Southern Expressway (E01) had been affected due to the flash floods in the area, expressway officials said.

Indian Security Advisor meets Ranil

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday met National Security Advisor (NSA) of India Ajit Doval and had discussed the current political situation in Sri Lanka, The Hindu said.

Customs bust gems smuggling attempt at BIA

Two Sri Lankans men had been arrested on last night at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) when attempting to smuggle 218 pieces of gems worth out of the country, Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

Earth slip kills mother and daughter

A 45 year-old mother and her 19 year-old daughter died following an earth slip at Loinen Estate in Bogawanthalawa, police said.

West wants dummies brought into power-MR

While claiming that with an unstable government, a country cannot be developed, President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that nowadays western countries want to bring dummies into power and they are trying to do the same in Sri Lanka as well.

Church denies cancellation of pope’s visit

The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka today dismissed the reports that that Pope Francis would not visit Sri Lanka next year.

Lankan dies in Japan detention center

A Sri Lankan man died while in detention at the Shinagawa Immigration Bureau last month after the guards apparently ignored his repeated complaints about severe chest pain, a supporters’ group said Monday.

Galle Dialogue-2014

Video: We never said we’ll support the Govt: BBS

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation today said that it had never said anything about supporting the government at the upcoming presidential election but that it would defeat the conspiracy against the country.   

Nations’ teamwork needed for Indian Ocean security: Defence expert

The cooperation between nations is essential to assure the security in the Indian Ocean and to make it free from human smuggling, drug trafficking and piracy, the visiting Indian Defence expert Dr. Ajit Kumar Doval said today.

Video: Reveal contents of my file: Naveen to Govt.

Former State Management and Reforms Minister Naveen Dissanayake who crossed over to the opposition today challenged the government to reveal within 24 hours the contents of his file if there was one and if it contained any details of corrupt deals.

MR’s deposit paid at the elections office

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary and Minister Susil Premajayantha today paid the cash deposit on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s candidature for the January 8 presidential election.

Vaiko condemns Modi for favouring Rajapaksa’s re-election

MDMK general secretary Vaiko has intensified his tirade against Prime Minister Narandra Modi and the BJP leadership for their open support to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Video: MOU signed

Video: MOU signed

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to field Maithripala Sisirsena as the common Opposition candidate at the forthcoming Presidential Election had been signed by several political parties and civic groups today.

Lankan maid accuses driver of sexual assault

A Sri Lankan housemaid in Kuwait filed a case against her male compatriot who also works as a driver in her sponsor’s house and accused him of rape.

Student killed, 44 injured after bus topples

One student was killed and another 44 were injured after a private bus skidded off the road and toppled in Bulathkohupitiya this morning,Police said.

Nothing against Ranil being PM -JVP

JJVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the JVP would have no objection to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe being appointed Prime Minister as planned by the common opposition, if SLFP stalwart and former minister Maithripala Sirisena won the upcoming presidential poll.

Dullas: Maithri didn’t tell; SF did

While claiming that former minister Maithripala Sirisena left the government without informing to anyone in the alliance or party, Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Allahapperuma said that Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka, who contested at the last Presidential Election, informed the President.

No more ministers can be bought over by dollars- MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that his cabinet no longer holds any Ministers who can be bought over by dollars or pounds.

More are to come from the government- Maithripala

Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena today said that more members of the government were due to defect and pledge support to him in the run-up to the Presidential polls.

Uva chill: EUC extends warm clothes

Taking a dig at the Uva Provincial Council’s decision to adjourn session till January 15, a resolution was passed at the Embilipitiya Urban Council on Friday (28) to issue woolen clothes to the Chief Minister and the ruling party members of the Uva Provincial Council.

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